The National Basketball Association is teaming up with Columbia Pictures to highlight celebrity fans at an NBA telecast, Daily Variety said Monday.
The paper said some celebrities attending Monday night's Los Angeles Lakers-Phoenix Suns game at Staples Center in Los Angeles will be fitted with microphones -- and viewers tuning in to the NBA TV cable feed will be able to hear the stars' observations by pushing a button marked SAP, for Second Audio Program.
NBA technicians will put mics on director Penny Marshall, James Denton of "Desperate Housewives" and former Lakers star Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Ice Cube -- who also happens to be the star of Columbia's upcoming "XXX: State of the Union" -- will also wear a wire.
"XXX: State of the Union" is a presenting sponsor of the telecast -- which is part of an overall agreement with Columbia calling for NBA TV to carry "XXX: State of the Union" features through the end of April.
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